Tag Archives: peanut butter

Shortly after my husband and I got married, we put together a picnic dinner. I was so excited to make a delicious quinoa salad. We started eating, and I noticed my husband wasn’t eating any of my salad. I asked him, and he said he doesn’t care for salads like that. I had just bought a big package of quinoa, and I needed a new way to fix it. I found lots of recipes for casseroles or soups, but not many regular side dishes.

So, I finally took a salad recipe to make this side dish. And it turned out great. This is great with fish or chicken. Or stir in some chicken and make a meal out of it. Enjoy!

Recipe notes: You could substitute any vegetables you like. The “sauce” is pretty thick. You could add in some water or more soy sauce to thin it out more, if you like a saucier side. I liked mine fairly thick, almost like a fried rice.

I have a confession to make. I only started eating peanut butter about 4 years ago. That may seem really strange, but it’s true. Hope glimmered in my life back in 2011/2012, and I have since come around. I still am not as big a fan as many people, particularly of peanut butter and chocolate. Which brings us to today’s topic.

We all know the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Most kids love them. Recently, I’ve had more and more mom friends talk about giving their children peanut butter and nutella sandwiches. At first, my nutrition mind screamed, “A chocolate sandwich?” But then I thought for a minute and realized jelly is basically pure sugar. Outside of taste, I wondered if there really is a difference.

Today, I’m breaking down the nutrition for you. Here’s the sandwich: 2 slices of whole wheat bread, 1 tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter (because creamy is not delicious), and 1 tablespoon of grape jelly OR nutella. All nutrients are in grams, except calories. Ready:

Nutrients

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut Butter and Nutella

Calories

311

355

Carbohydrates

45

42

Sugars

15

14

Fat

10

16

Protein

12

13

To me, these numbers aren’t incredibly different. I have heard parents argue that there is less sugar and more protein in nutella. While that technically is true in the numbers, one gram either way doesn’t get me excited. The biggest difference is really in calories, which also isn’t huge. In the end, it really comes down to what your child will eat. Either is a decent, if not perfect choice. But don’t try to justify that one is better than the other. Just own it for what it is, the sandwich your child prefers. Happy eating and parenting!

Have any nutrition questions? Need help with meal planning or a special dietary need? Send your questions to me at kimberlykmarsh(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will answer them in upcoming posts!

Have you ever made a dish you thought was really delicious but no one else could remember it? It has happened to me a few times, including the first time I made these noodles. I remember making them for a picnic dinner date we went on. I even remember my husband saying he liked it. But anytime I asked him about them, he couldn’t remember what I was talking about. Partly because the only way I could describe them was as “peanut butter noodles” which would usually remind him of the Thai Style Chicken and Noodles I shared before. That is one of his favorites, so the discussion would end. So, these gradually drifted off my radar for about two years.

Wow, those two years were really missing something. When I rediscovered this to take lunch to a friend, I was reminded of how easy, quick, delicious, and versatile this dish is. And the fact that it is cold makes it perfect for summer. It can be a main dish or a side dish that is easy to transport wherever you need it. I recently made a big batch right before we went hiking, and it made an awesome dinner after a long day of hiking and lugging around a toddler.

1. Sprinkle eggplant with salt. Let it drain in a colander for 30 minutes. OR Place eggplant on several layers of coffee filters or paper towels. Microwave for 10 minutes, or until beginning to look slightly shriveled.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting oil and salt. Drain and rinse under cold water. Place in a large bowl and toss with sesame oil (if using).

3. Heat canola oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Saute eggplant until browned, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Add to pasta. Saute chicken in same pan until cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. Add to pasta.

4. In a blender or food processor, process garlic and ginger until well chopped. Add the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, red pepper, and hot. Process until smooth. (The sauce may be a little thick. If it is overly thick, add more water).

Recipe Notes: Feel free to mix it up on this dish. I’ve made it without the chicken and without the eggplant. All the combinations have been good. I like the crunch the cabbage gives to this, but I have also omitted that. A hothouse cucumber works really, really well in this. But I’m usually too cheap to buy one, so I just half peel a regular cucumber with good results. Also, you could substitute garlic powder and ginger powder and mix the sauce by hand. It takes a fair amount of muscle, but can be done.

After I had my baby, I discovered that I needed to snack more than I had previously. I quickly got tired of my typical grab and go snacks, but I wouldn’t take the time to make something like a sandwich. I found this recipe, and it hit the sweet spot. A whole pan was quick and easy to make. It was a tasty, healthy, and filling snack. My husband says these look like I unwrapped a granola bar. It does have a similar taste, only much softer.

Another great thing about this snack is it doesn’t have a lot of added sugar. A recent study found that people who consumed 25% or more of their calories from added sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as those who consumed less than 10% of calories from added sugar. This recipe has only 7 g of added sugar. Compare that to a regular granola bar, which has 12 g of total sugar, which is predominately added sugar.

Recipe notes: The original recipe called for quick oats and creamy peanut butter. I never have quick oats, and it works fine with regular oats. My bars do look more “oatey” than the original, so that may be the difference. I only buy chunky peanut butter, and I like the little bit of texture. The original suggested serving these with jam on top, which is tasty, but they are good on their own, too.

The original recipe called these “breakfast” bars. I would think you’d need to eat 2 or 3 of these to make a filling breakfast. I prefer them as a snack.

Low iodine adjustment: I loved these as a snack on the low iodine diet. Replace the brown sugar with regular sugar (most of 1/2 a cup) and a tablespoon or so of honey. Use non-iodized salt. Use water in the place of milk. Use 3 egg whites in place of the whole eggs. Use unsalted peanut butter.

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Disclaimer

This blog is meant to provide general nutrition information and healthful recipes. It is not meant to replace the advice of your personal health care provider. Before making any lifestyle change, I recommend consulting with a doctor or a registered dietitian. If you believe you see an error, please contact me. My goal is to help, not confuse.
If you are seeking personal dietary counseling, please contact me via email. I am happy to counsel you via electronic means (or in person if possible) or to assist you in finding a local dietitian, per your preference.